Sometimes I have really, really weird and crazy ideas for NY Burger Week. A lot of them don’t come to fruition or get shuffled back into the deck for another year. Other times, I know just who to call and the person on the other line of that call says “HECK YEAH WE WANT TO DO THAT EVENT!” Often times that person is Julie from Branded Restaurants.

After Julie and I talked about the idea I thought the event was still missing one element. On a whim, I reached out to US Air Guitar and within hours I had an email from Lieutenant Facemelter, the 2013 US Air Guitar Finals Champion. Long story short, our silly 80s hair metal Hamburger night had become and an official US Air Guitar Championship Qualifier.

We had no idea what we were in store for…

DUKE’S ORIGINAL ROADHO– USE
OPEN UP AND SAY… YUM!– 80’s hair metal Burgers & US Air Guitar Qualifier –

US Air Guitar Qualifier Competitor Price $15*(Does not include food & drink)

Ticket includes:

3 off-menu 80s hair metal themed mini Burgers

1 off-menu 80s hair metal themed loaded fries

Choice of 1 draft beer from the beer wall

Entrance to watch and judge an air guitar contest from 8:30 – 9:30 pm

Scream if you love 80’s Hair Metal? I can’t hear you. Scream louder!

For this NY Burger Week event, we are pulling out all the stops and hope that you will too. If you love Poison, The Scorpions, Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Twister Sister and the like, plus you are just one crazed Burger fanatic, then this event is for you.

You’ll be served 3, off-menu, 80’s hair metal themed Burgers as well as a an order of loaded fries that has enough virtual hairspray that you better not flick on a lighter. You’ll also get your choice of one craft beer from Duke’s draft beer. Added bonus, Duke’s will have the brand new Anthrax “Wardance” Pale Ale from Butternuts that was brewed in collaboration for the band.

THE MENU

Can’t Stand The Heartburn Burger

Def Cheddar Queso

Sweet onion Cinderelish

Sweet Chili O’ Mine

Dr. Fritosgood Corn Chips

Jalapeno Pepper Messiah

For Those About to Guac

Blind In Tex-Mex Burger

Getcha’ Pulled Pork

She’s Only Mac n cheese

Burn In-N-Out Hell Burger

Melted cheese

Grilled ScorpiOnions

Shark Thousand Island sauce

Loaded Fries Of A Stranger

Way Cool Ranch Seasoning Jr.

White Cheddar Snake Sauce

Crumbled Bacon the Law

BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!

Starting at 8:30 and running until about 9:30, we welcome in the baddest air guitarists in the big apple for an official US Air Guitar Championships Qualifier. 2 talented air guitar masters will advance on to the next round. Winners win $50, a $30 Duke’s gift card, a pitcher of beer and best of all … a spot to compete in the US Air Guitar Semifinals at the Knitting Factory on July 7th!

TOP 3 COMPETITORS:

Third place: Little Bro Peep
— this is one to watch. Came out and draped in a keep wearing corpse paint. I think everybody was afraid of where this was going to go. Then the Cape came flying off and underneath was a hairy man in a little bopeep outfit. Complete Rager of a performance that blew perceptions of what is an air guitar master across the sexes. A true freedom fighter for both metals and gender equality in air guitar.

Runner up: Twister Sistair
— blazing performance the answers the question what if David Bowie was from the Sunset strip and outer space at the same time. You could tell she was a pro from the first note and pulled out every trick there is in the book from highflying kicks, to standing on tables, to backslide to even breaking out some stars and bars. A perfect perfect competitor if you will.

By my ears and eyes, it was a tie between Georgia Lunch and Twisted Sistair so I made a game time call. The two of the faced off, while both on stage, to a song they did not know in advance, “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins. While it was an over-the-top, off-the-chain, balls-to-the-wall performance by both, the crowd voted, by applause, cheering and then a chant for Georgia.

Holy moley, WHAT A NIGHT! That was so much ridiculous fun!! Thank you to Julie, Mo, Francesca, Chef Brandon, “DJ” Alex and everyone else at Duke’s. That was no small production! Just interrupting your service to make the Burgers was more than some restaurants could handle. But Duke’s is not your average restaurant! They are super humans whose super power is to make sure people eat good food and have a great time. What could’ve been a total disaster was totally fun. Thank you to all the competitors who came out and gave it their all, especially Ricky Stinkfingers and Twister Sistair. If wasn’t for the 8 of you, there would’ve been no show at all. Thanks to Lieutenant Facemelter from Us Air Guitar. We’re not a production company but you made everything about the competition run smoothly. Lastly, thank you to all of you that came to the show and had a rip roaring good time. You are truly the ones that made this so much fun.